It wasn't pretty at times but the Lowry High School softball team was more than happy to come away with a three-game sweep at Elko last weekend.
The Buckaroos committed 13 errors in the three games, however they were able to stay undefeated in the Division I-A North.
Lowry won 14-12 on March 28 and swept a doubleheader Saturday 12-5 and 16-5 to improve to 6-0 in league play and 7-3 overall. After losing their first three games of the season, the Buckaroos have bounced back with seven consecutive victories.
"We were not ready to go in that first game on Friday at all," said LHS coach Ty Lucas. "It was very uncharacteristic of our style of play. The positive was that for the first time this year, we were able to overcome some adversity. We put ourselves in a hole, but dug ourselves out, which was a positive. We could have easily rolled over and gone on to Saturday."
The series opened in a rough way for Lowry, committing three errors to the first three Elko batters. The Indians took advantage of that and scored three runs in the first inning.
The Buckaroos bounced back, as they sent 11 batters to the plate in the second inning, scoring seven runs in the process. Jaecee Munger began the rally with a walk and Lexie Coleman and Taylor Schwartz reached base via an error and walk, respectively. Allison Barron followed with an RBI single and Ere Higbee provided the major blow of the frame, with a two-run triple. That was the first of three hits for Higbee.
Shelby McKinnon gave Lowry an 8-3 lead in the third inning with her RBI single that scored Barron. Elko cut into the deficit with a pair of runs in the fifth inning, but the Buckaroos quickly got those back in the top of the sixth on the strength of a two-run home run by Higbee.
Lowry's lead disappeared in the bottom of the sixth, as the Indians strung together five hits and took advantage of two Buckaroo errors to take a 12-10 lead.
Down to its final three outs, Lowry rallied in the seventh inning, as Coleman reached base on an error. Jorden Raynor followed with a RBI single and Caitlynn Cooper walked. Higbee provided the final blow with a two-RBI single to put the Buckaroos in front 14-12. Higbee finished the game 3-for-6 with six RBI and two runs scored.
Schwartz started for Lowry and went 5.1 innings in the circle. She allowed eight runs (four earned) on nine hits. Schwartz struck out two and walked one. Alyssa Dendary picked up the win in 1.2 innings of relief. The junior gave four runs (three earned) on two hits.
"The biggest thing we need to do is settle down," Lucas said. "We are worried about making the next play before finishing the one we need to."
Saturday proved to me much better for Lowry, as the Buckaroos scored the first runs of the opening game and never trailed. Kylee McClellan singled home Dendary in the first inning and Schwartz plated a run in the second on a passed ball.
Elko tied the game in the bottom of the second, but Lowry responded with four runs in the top of the fifth inning. The Buckaroos put the first four runners on base, capped off by a two RBI single by Lexie Coleman. Alyssa Jones also added run-scoring single in the frame.
Lowry pulled away in the seventh as McKinnon, Dendary, McClellan and Munger strung together singles. McClellan collected four of the Buckaroos' 12 hits. The junior was 4-for-5 with four RBI and a run scored. Dendary added three hits and scored three runs and McKinnon had a pair of singles.
Dendary earned the victory, pitching a complete game. The junior allowed five runs on seven hits, striking out two and walking one.
"We came out with a much better focus," Lucas said. "We are just working through some early-season mental errors. The coaches have high expectations and the girls do also. I think they are putting too much pressure on themselves and they don't need to. They just need to take a breath and read and react better."
Lowry carried momentum into the series finale, jumping out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning on a RBI single by Schwartz and a two RBI base hit by Barron.
The Buckaroos plated single runs in the third and fourth innings to lead 6-0 and picked up RBI singles from McKinnon, Coleman and McClellan in the fifth to lead 9-0.
The Indians plated three runs in the bottom of the fifth but Lowry got those all back plus more in the sixth. Munger provided the blow in the seven-run inning, with a three-run homer.
McClellan and Munger picked up three and two hits, respectively, and each had four RBI. Coleman was 3-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBI, Barron was 3-for-5 with two RBI and Ashlee Barron and Higbee had one hit each.
Schwartz improved to 3-0 in league games, allowing five runs (two earned) in the complete-game effort. The senior gave up six hits, struck out one and walked one.
"We hit the ball all weekend and our bats got better as we went on," Lucas said. "We got better in all three phases. We started taking the right approach and doing the jobs they need to. Ultimately, we will take the wins and Elko is a tough place to play at."
Lowry is back at home this weekend to face Dayton on Friday at 3 p.m. and a doubleheader Saturday at 11 a.m.
"We know what to expect from Dayton," Lucas said. "They have a good pitcher and we know what to expect from her. We just have to come with the right mental approach."[[In-content Ad]]
